Speed section by Chadd Cripe

IDAHO STATESMAN • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM/BSUFOOTBALL

College football has never been faster

INSIDE: YouCanCoachSpeed • BoiseSt. • MountainWest • Idaho • IdahoSt. • Nation

FOOTBALL2 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

College Football: Preview ’13

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Not just players: Pace of change accelerating, too C

ollege football has never been faster. And that truism extends beyond the players on the field and the pace of play. The sport is changing faster than ever, its default glacial spirit being pushed and prodded into action by the forces it has unleashed through its popularity — lawsuits from former players, television revenue and social media pressures. Conferences have expanded and contracted, been extinguished and created. You’ll find no WAC preview in these pages because the 50-year-old league — one that housed every current member of the Mountain West during its lifetime — no longer sponsors football. The larger-than-ever, 12-team Mountain West holds its first league championship game Dec. 7.

topple the Bowl Championship Series. Few, however, expect the four-team playoff system that replaces it next season to last through the end of its original 12-year contract with ESPN. The lure of even more television money and the howls from BRIAN MURPHY a disgruntled fan base of the first bmurphy@idahostatesman.com undefeated No. 5 may prove too much to resist even for traditionalists. The American Athletic ConferEven larger structural changes ence opens its first season next week. could be on the way. A pivotal The NCAA, never known for its NCAA meeting in January could nimbleness, acted quickly in pave the way for player stipends or disciplining Penn State in the face the much-discussed “Division 4” of overwhelming public outcry. In breakaway by the biggest, richest recent weeks, driven by similar out- conferences. Any decisions could side forces, the organization pulled have a dramatic impact on the future jersey sales off its website and ruled of Boise State’s football program. a 24-year-old former Marine eligible Concerns for player safety — to play at Middle Tennessee State. bolstered by lawsuits — led to It took 15 years of complaints to kickoff rule changes last year and

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now enhanced targeting penalties. Players will be ejected for targeting. We’ll see how long that rule can hold up under the constant review by coaches, media and fans. And then there is the biggest potential gamechanger: A lawsuit by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon that demands a cut of revenue from television rights, video game licensing and jersey sales. If successful, the entire NCAA model would face a disruption. Alabama coach Nick Saban, who has won three of the past four national championships, including the last two, has complained about the quicker pace of play on the field. But it’s the dizzying magnitude and speed of change that should have everyone holding on. © 2013 Idaho Statesman

TABLE OF CONTENTS BOISE STATE COVER STORY: You can coach speed 4-6 BSU season preview 8 BSU schedule 8 BSU offense 10 BSU defense 12 BSU roster 14 BSU fan facts 15 Mechanics of speed 16-17 Mountain West teams 18 Mountain West players 19 MW schedule, bowls, polls 20 Idaho 22-25 Idaho State 26-27 Speed: A national trend 28-29 National speedsters 30-31 Cover: Photo illustration of Ebo Makinde by Kyle Green / kgreen@idahostatesman.com

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IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Boise State: speed

KYLE GREEN / kgreen@idahostatesman.com

You CAN coach speed Th e m ec ha

Cripe • Idaho

Statesm an

Take a lesson in speed and learn about the anatomy behind getting faster from Boise State strength and conditioning coach Tim Socha. FOOTBALL 16-17

by Chadd

Some shop for it. “You can’t coach length and you can’t coach speed,” Utah State firstyear coach Matt Wells said. “You can recruit it and you must recruit it — or you’ll be talking to a new guy in three years.” Others cultivate it. Petersen will take a great player with marginal speed — cornerback

Davis • Text

recruits into NFL Draft picks and helping Boise State become a fixture in the Top 25. “He gets those guys faster,” coach Chris Petersen said. “I really didn’t think that happened. But across the board, our guys get faster.” Speed has become the must-have accessory in college football.

llustratio n by Patrick

hen Boise State strength and conditioning coach Tim Socha began his career 14 years ago, the attitude about speed matched the cliché. You can’t coach it. Now, he does little else. Socha consistently unearths an extra gear in his football players — turning speed-challenged

ni cs of ...

FORCE IN EQUALS FORCE OU T

Boise State streng into the ground. th and conditioning Push one coach Tim way and because Socha gave you go if I’m us a lesson which means standing straigh the other. “Whe in I’m not prope t up and runnin n we talk about speed, which is produced runnin g, I’m lling mysel f forward. putting all my g,” Socha said, “we by exerting force force straigh We want want a forwa to lean in t rd lean the direct into the ground, ion we’re going.”

Jamar Taylor, a secondround pick of the Miami Dolphins this year, is a prime example — and give him to Socha. “I will take the better

player,” Petersen said, “because then I think coach Socha will develop that speed.” See SPEED, F5

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL5

Boise State: speed SPEED

FIVE FASTEST BRONCOS

CONTINUED FROM F4

40-yard dash 1. S Ebo Makinde, 4.24 seconds 2. WR Aaron Burks, 4.28 3. RB Devan Demas, 4.40 3. WR Geraldo Boldewijn, 4.40 5. WR Shane Williams-Rhodes, 4.41

POINT OF EMPHASIS

Socha played offensive line in the Big Ten at Minnesota. Speed was not on his mind. “It was slow, smashmouth football,” he said. He began his coaching career in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Auburn in the heart of college football’s fastest conference — the SEC. The strength coach’s job back then: Build muscle. Speed was an “afterthought,” Socha said. “It was so-and-so walked in the door and he’s a 4.4 (seconds in the 40-yard dash) guy, he’s going to be a 4.4 guy,” he said. “… That mind-set has changed. We know as strength coaches that we can change how fast someone is.” Socha joined the Boise State staff in 2006, Petersen’s first year as the head coach. The Broncos couldn’t match Oklahoma’s speed in the Fiesta Bowl at the end of that season — they won anyway — but Socha said that gap has narrowed in the seven years since. It’s so important that every element of Boise State’s offseason training program is aimed at increasing speed. Socha spends half of his research time on speed. “Even the bench press is centered around being fast,” he said. “That’s the name of the game. The game has changed. Nine out of 10 times when you play a football game, the fastest team is going to win. … It might be in subtle ways here or there, but you hope you have that advantage.” The Broncos’ training focuses on straight-line speed, change of direction and deceleration. Coaches break down the elements of

BURROUGHS RANKS AMONG BEST BoiseStatejuniorwidereceiverDallasBurroughs, left,wassickthedaytheBroncosranthe40-yard dashthisyear,sohedidn’tcrackthetopfive. However, he tied Makinde with a time of 4.28 seconds last year. And Makinde thinks Burroughs is probably faster. “He ran 10.3 (in the 100 meters in high school),” Makinde said. “I wasn’t anywhere near that. I might have to give him that one.” Burroughs, of Rocky Mountain High in Meridian, ran the 100 in a state meet record 10.34 seconds in 2011. That time led CBSSports.com to rank him this summer as the sixth-fastest player in all of college football. And by raw time, Burroughs actually would rank fourth. The website gave an edge to two younger players who ran slightly slower. Ironically, Burroughs didn’t train for speed until late in his high school career. “One day, I became fast,” he said. He traded baseball for track his last two years of high school to get even faster, which helped him earn a football scholarship at Boise State. He has improved his speed in college, he said, but his focus is in a different area. “I’m more fast than quick,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to work on is getting quicker.” JOE JASZEWSKI / jjaszewski@idahostatesman.com

running — acceleration, deceleration, cutting, upperbody technique, footwork, etc. They strengthen the key muscles — the hamstrings, glutes, calves and quads — through weight-training exercises like squats. And they improve flexibility. It’s a six-month process, from the beginning of the spring semester in January to the start of fall camp in early August. The rigors of the season prevent speed training the rest of the year. “(Socha) knows how to get people in the best shape and get them faster and how to get them to move on the football field, especially,”

senior safety Ebo Makinde receivers and defensive said. backs excel. “That’s such an important TESTING DAY day to them,” Socha said of The Broncos check their the sprint. “It takes a long progress every spring, usual- time because they’re so ly in early May. Players go focused in on it. A 40 to a through a series of tests sim- skill guy is like a bench press ilar to those administered at is to a bodybuilder. If you the NFL Scouting Combine. want them to be confident in They also try to lift their max their speed, they have to weight in three disciplines — have good 40 times.” back squat, hang clean and Makinde ran the 40 in a bench press. team-best 4.24 seconds this Two tests stand out to year. He carries that memory players. onto the football field. The squat — an explosive He has dropped more lift that contributes to speed. than a half-second from his The linemen dominate. 40 time since his junior year And the 40 — a measure of high school. of top-end speed. The wide “I can feel more comfort-

able out there because I have that confidence — I know I’m fast,” he said. Socha figures he can trim up to two-tenths of a second off the time of a fast player during his five-year college career. He can chop up to a half-second off the time of a more plodding linebacker type. That’s why Petersen is willing to take a player with superior skill and intelligence who has a speed shortcoming and trust Socha’s staff to prepare him for college football. “We’ve had a track record of getting that done,” Socha said. “As long as our guys

Chadd Cripe

work hard at it, they’re going to get better at it. They recruit really good guys who want to work hard and that’s what’s allowed us to do it. And sometimes it takes a while. It’s not a process where you can microwave a guy. It’s slow cooking and sometimes it doesn’t happen fast enough for anybody — the player, the coach, anybody. But it does happen.” And since players put so much emphasis on speed, they’re willing to work for it. “It’s easy to convince them to buy in,” Socha said. “What’s hard is more and See SPEED, F6

FOOTBALL6 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Boise State: speed SPEED CONTINUED FROM F5

more guys at an early age are getting advice on speed. There are a lot of preconceived notions that they’re coming in with about how to get fast.”

DEVELOPING EARLY

The emphasis on speed has trickled down to the grass roots of football. “Ever since Pop Warner, they’ve always told us you’ve got to be able to run,” Makinde said. “You have to be in the best shape. You

have to be able to run against the best receivers. And if you’re not as big, you have to make up for it somewhere else — that’s in quickness and speed and agility.” Makinde didn’t train specifically for speed until his senior year of high school. He was a two-time regional champion in the 400 meters in Arizona. But he says he didn’t become fast until he began training with his brother, Victor Makinde, who designed his own training program while playing football at SMU. By the end of his freshman

year at Boise State, Makinde ran in the 4.3s. He ran 4.77 as a high school junior. “I actually was surprised,” he said. “I never thought about running that fast. I just wanted to get faster.” Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Patti began speed training when he was in seventh grade. He grew up in Orlando, Fla., and worked with a trainer at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World. “In Florida, it’s a fast game,” Patti said. “All the kids down there are quick. I put a lot of importance on it.” Treasure Valley high

schools have joined the speed revolution, too. Centennial High coach Lee Neumann, who is entering his 24th season, used videos and sessions at a speed school to learn how to train his players. He teaches a fitness class that is half speed development and half strength training. “The biggest change in the last 10 to 15 years in the Boise area is just the speed factor,” he said. “Kids are becoming so much faster, so much quicker, so much more explosive.” The question now is where it stops.

If the track world is any indication, there’s no reason players can’t keep getting faster. The world record in the men’s 100 meters has dropped from 9.92 seconds by Carl Lewis in 1988 to 9.58 by Usain Bolt in 2009. “We haven’t seen a wall yet,” Socha said. “As long as guys are getting stronger and more flexible and they’re doing it the right way, I don’t know where the wall is going to be. “That’s the neat thing. We don’t know.” Chadd Cripe: 377-6398, Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat

JOE JASZEWSKI / jjaszewski@idahostatesman.com

Boise State strength and conditioning coach Tim Socha estimates he spends 50 percent of his professional development time on speed. Nutrition is second at 35 percent. “Early on,” he said, “speed was just kind of an afterthought.”

‘NEXT FRONTIER’ No-huddleoffenseshave takenovercollegefootball. EvenBoiseStatehasdabbledintheconcept—using itextensivelyintheMAACO BowlLasVegasinDecemberandinthetwopublic scrimmagesthisoffseason. “It’sgoodforourdefense,”coachChrisPetersen said.“Everybodythatwe’re playingisno-huddle.” Thefranticpaceofplay hasforcedstrengthand conditioningcoachesto rethinkhowtheyprepare players. FresnoStateforyears emphasizedbulkonits offensivelineundercoach PatHill,whopreferredaprostyleattack.CoachTim DeRuyter,whoarrivedlast year,askedthelinemento shedpoundsforhisnohuddlesystem. “You’vegottobeableto beinshapetodoitwithyour offensiveline,especially,” DeRuytersaid.“Ithinkour guysfeelbetteraboutthemselves.Theylookbetterat thebeachthantheydid before.They’vedropped 20-30pounds.” Linemenaren’ttheonly playersfacinganewreality. Receiversanddefensive backs,whomightrun40 yardsattopspeedona givenplay,areaskedtogo again20secondslater. “Thebigthinghittingme squareinthefaceinthe learningprocessisspeed repeatability,”BoiseState strengthandconditioning coachTimSochasaid.“The abilitytorunafast(40-yard dash)butthendoitagain andagainandagain.Itused tobeyou’dhaveaplayand thenyou’dhave30-35 secondstorest.…Howdo wegetguysfastandhowdo theycontinuetobefast,play afterplayafterplay—that’s thenextfrontier.” Chadd Cripe

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Boise State: Season Overview

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Fresh faces fill Broncos’roster

FAST LEARNERS

The 2013 Broncos are a young, inexperienced football team. They return 10 starters. They have 32 returning upperclassmen on a 103-man roster. They have 57 players — more than half the team — who haven’t played in a Boise State game. Of the 53 players on the projected depth chart, 25 are freshmen, sophomores or junior college transfers. The youth likely will be a bigger factor on defense, which over the past two years has sent seven players to the NFL. Only four defensive starters return this year. “We lost quite a few guys,” said coach Chris Petersen, who is 84-8 in seven seasons, “and you win big games with great defense.”

FAST START

DARIN OSWALD / Statesman file

The Broncos’ season begins where they left off — with the Washington Huskies. Boise State defeated Washington in last year’s The Broncos play MAACO Bowl Las Vegas 28-26. arguably their four most important games of the Division. son — the worst production see all the work we’ve been It’s the first time the Bronseason by Oct. 12 — and In all, the Broncos play since Petersen arrived as of- doing hopefully pay off this cos have played in a conferthree of them on the road. five of their seven opponents fensive coordinator in 2001. season,” senior wide receiv- ence with divisions. Because The opener at Washing- who played in 2012 bowl Coaches have streamlined er Kirby Moore said. “We’ve of the tiebreakers, one loss to ton will set the tone for the games on the road. the playbook and tinkered been doing these things in the wrong team could end season. Can this be another “When I saw that sched- with some new concepts. practice, but obviously on their hopes. Top 10, Bowl Championship ule come out, I really wanted They spent the Spring Game Saturdays it’s a little more “There’s no margin for Series team? Probably not to write (Mountain West and fall scrimmage in the difficult.” error,” Petersen said. with a loss to the Huskies. Commissioner) Craig no-huddle — they used that The Mountain West Thompson a very nasty approach extensively in the FAST FINISH FAST FORWARD opener against Air Force is letter, but I didn’t think that MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, The Broncos hope to This team is somewhat critical to the Mountain would be the appropriate too — and might increase reach the first Mountain reminiscent of 2009, when Division race. thing to do,” Petersen said the tempo this season. West championship game the Broncos entered the The following trip to with a chuckle. And they have the offen- Dec. 7, and could crash the season with 34 freshmen and Fresno State is the Mountain sive personnel required to final Bowl Championship sophomores on the depth West’s spotlight game for FAST FIX return to their high-scoring Series, which will be chart but a returning starter 2013. The offensive coaching ways — a returning starter at replaced by the College at quarterback. And the Oct. 12 trip to staff pursued a basic need in quarterback (Joe South- Football Playoff in 2014. That team started a Utah State — the 2012 WAC the offseason. wick), speed and depth at They’ll need to win the 24-game winning streak. champion that finished “We have to score more wide receiver, a powerhouse Mountain West to have a Does this team have that ahead of Boise State in The points,” Petersen said. tailback (Jay Ajayi) and an shot at the BCS. And to reach level of talent and resolve? Associated Press Top 25 — The Broncos averaged imposing offensive line. the title game, they’ll need to We’ll find out quickly. could decide the Mountain 30.2 points a game last sea“We’re really excited to win the Mountain Division. Chadd Cripe: 377-6398

SCHEDULE AUG. 31 at Washington, 8 p.m. TV: Fox Sports 1 SEPT. 7 vs. Tennessee-Martin, 1 p.m. TV: ESPN3 SEPT. 13 vs. Air Force, 6 p.m. TV: ESPN SEPT. 20 at Fresno State, 7 p.m. TV: ESPN SEPT. 28 vs. Southern Miss, TBA TV: TBA OCT. 12 at Utah State, 6 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network OCT. 19 vs. Nevada, 6 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network OCT. 25 at BYU, 6 p.m. TV: ESPN NOV. 2 at Colorado State, 6 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network NOV. 16 vs. Wyoming, TBA TV: TBA NOV. 23 atSanDiegoState,8:30p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network NOV. 30 vs. New Mexico, TBA TV: TBA

BOWL HISTORY 2012: MAACO def. Washington 28-26 2011: MAACO def. Arizona State 56-24 2010: MAACO def. Utah 26-3 2009: Fiesta def. TCU 17-10 2008: Poinsettia lost to TCU 17-16 2007: Hawaii lost to East Carolina 41-38 2006: Fiesta def. Oklahoma 43-42 (OT) 2005: MPC Computers lost to Boston College 27-21 2004: Liberty lost to Louisville 44-40 2003: Fort Worth def. TCU 34-31 2002: Humanitarian def. Iowa State 34-16 2000: Humanitarian def. UTEP 38-23 1999: Humanitarian def. Louisville 34-31

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL9

FOOTBALL10 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

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Boise State: Offense 40-YARD DASH

RETURNING STAT LEADERS

FORTY QUICK NUGGETS ABOUT AN OFFENSE TRYING TO REBOUND IN 2013

PASSING Joe Southwick 19 TDs, 7 ints.

RUSHING Jay Ajayi 548 yards, 4 TDs

RECEIVING Matt Miller 66 catches, 5 TDs

DEPTH CHART (PROJECTED) QUARTERBACK 16 Joe Southwick 9 Grant Hedrick 8 Nick Patti TAILBACK 27 Jay Ajayi 21 Jack Fields OR 23 Derrick Thomas X RECEIVER 2 Matt Miller 18 Aaron Burks Z RECEIVER 17 Geraldo Boldewijn 81 Dallas Burroughs SLOT RECEIVER 34 Kirby Moore 11 Shane Williams-Rhodes TIGHT END 87 Gabe Linehan 85 Holden Huff LEFT TACKLE 78 Charles Leno Jr. 70 Steven Baggett LEFT GUARD 77 Spencer Gerke 62 Chris Tozer CENTER 65 Matt Paradis 73 Travis Averill RIGHT GUARD 72 Marcus Henry 66 Mario Yakoo RIGHT TACKLE 71 Rees Odhiambo 76 Jake Broyles KICKER 41 Dan Goodale 28 Tyler Rausa KICK RETURNER 11 Shane Williams-Rhodes

HT. 6-1 6-0 5-10 HT. 6-0 5-9 6-0 HT. 6-3 6-3 HT. 6-4 5-8 HT. 6-3 5-6 HT. 6-4 6-5 HT. 6-4 6-3 HT. 6-3 6-4 HT. 6-3 6-3 HT. 6-3 6-3 HT. 6-4 6-5 HT. 5-10 5-8 HT. 5-6

WT. 202 202 196 WT. 220 195 208 WT. 222 205 WT. 220 171 WT. 208 157 WT. 238 236 WT. 295 285 WT. 303 319 WT. 300 296 WT. 285 323 WT. 307 286 WT. 196 190 WT. 157

YR. Sr. Jr. Fr. YR. So. So. Jr. YR. Jr. Sr. YR. Sr. Jr. YR. Sr. So. YR. Sr. So. YR. Sr. Fr. YR. Sr. Sr. YR. Sr. Fr. YR. So. Fr. YR. So. Sr. YR. Jr. So. YR. So.

1. Senior quarterback Joe Southwick tossed nine touchdowns and no interceptions in the final four games last season.

27. Boldewijn is 6-4, Burks

is 6-3.

2. He looked just as sharp through the offseason, tossing three picks in fall camp.

28. “The stage is set for those guys to take the next step,” Petersen said, “and if they do, it’ll take this pass game to the next level.”

3. “He’s got a tremendous command of what we’re doing,” coach Chris Petersen said.

29. The Broncos’ plethora of wide receiver options could disguise another threat.

4. The Broncos are 58-7 the past five times they’ve had a senior starting QB, dating to Bart Hendricks in 2000.

30. Senior tight end Gabe Linehan caught five touchdown passes two years ago before missing most of last season with a hamstring injury.

5. They’re 51-2 the past four times they’ve had a returning starter at QB, dating to Jared Zabransky in 2006. 6. The offensive line features three seniors and two sophomores — a mix of veteran savvy and young athleticism. 7. Senior center Matt Paradis was the only All-Mountain West first-teamer on the Broncos’ offense last year. 8. The Broncos ran for 200 yards six times last season. 9. But they topped out at

116 rushing yards against four stingy defenses — Michigan State (37), BYU (116), San Diego State (112) and Washington (109).

31. Sophomore tight end Holden Huff caught two TD passes in the MAACO Bowl. 32. That’s a lot of options in the pass game. DARIN OSWALD / Statesman file 33. But the Broncos should Wide receiver Aaron Burks averaged 18.8 yards a catch last year. be able to run it, too.

13. Williams-Rhodes has developed into a complete wide receiver after filling a specialty role last year. 14. He’ll catch passes as a

slot receiver, probably carry the ball on sweeps, return punts and kickoffs.

15. He’s 5-6, 157 pounds — the shortest player on the team. 16. “The things he did last

10. They were 2-2 in those

year,” Petersen said, “we’re expecting to really build on it.”

11. “We don’t have a goal of a number of yards per game,” Paradis said. “Last year, we had some games where we’d do really well, some games where it was not as good. Whenever we want, we want to be able to run the ball. That’s the main goal.”

17. Junior wide receiver Matt Miller has 128 catches — tied for 12th most at the school.

12. Sophomore wide receiver Shane WilliamsRhodes could be the most exciting player on the team.

20. Senior wide receiver Kirby Moore quietly has made 79 catches in his career, including a career-high 36 last year.

games.

18. The record is 229, by Austin Pettis. 19. Miller is on pace for 256.

21. This is the last of seven straight years with a Moore brother on the roster. Kellen joined the team as a quarterback in 2007. 22. The X-factor for the offense is the senior wide receiver tandem of Geraldo Boldewijn and Aaron Burks. 23. They have combined for 77 career catches at an average of 13.7 yards per catch. 24. They might make that many catches this year alone. 25. Boldewijn ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, flew 10 feet, 11 inches in the broad jump and hopped 38 inches in the vertical in spring testing. 26. Burks ran 4.28 (second

on the team), matched Boldewijn’s team-best 10-11 in the broad and soared a team-best 43 inches in the vertical.

34. Sophomore tailback Jay Ajayi averaged 6.7 yards per carry last season. 35. He has a bruising running style and surprising speed for a 220-pound back. 36. “He’s really going to be a nice workhorse for us,” Southwick said in the spring. 37. Robert Prince returns as the offensive coordinator. 38. Prince, Southwick and QB coach Jonathan Smith were in new roles last year. 39. Prince was the third offensive coordinator in three years. Smith was the third quarterbacks coach in three years. 40. “It’s been a revolving door the last couple years,” Southwick said. “This offseason has been spectacular.” Chadd Cripe: 377-6398; Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat

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Boise State: defense 40-YARD DASH

RETURNING STAT LEADERS

FORTY QUICK NUGGETS ABOUT ONE OF THE NATION’S STINGIEST DEFENSES 1. The Broncos have finished no worse than 14th in the nation in scoring defense every season since 2008. TACKLES Jeremy Ioane 70

SACKS Demarcus Lawrence 9.5

INTERCEPTIONS Darian Thompson, Ioane 3 each

DEPTH CHART (PROJECTED) DEFENSIVE END 8 Demarcus Lawrence 53 Beau Martin DEFENSIVE TACKLE 69 Tyler Horn 40 Armand Nance NOSE TACKLE 43 Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe 90 Justin Taimatuia STUD END 48 Kharyee Marshall 94 Sam McCaskill WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER 36 Tyler Gray OR 51 Ben Weaver MIDDLE LINEBACKER 13 Blake Renaud 45 Travis Saxton STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER 32 Jonathan Brown OR 38 Corey Bell CORNERBACK 1 Bryan Douglas 19 Mercy Maston OR 6 Chaz Anderson CORNERBACK 5 Donte Deayon 3 Cleshawn Page OR 30 Jonathan Moxey SAFETY 10 Jeremy Ioane 28 Dillon Lukehart SAFETY 4 Darian Thompson 37 Ebo Makinde PUNTER 14 Trevor Harman OR 26 Sean Wale LONG SNAPPER 46 Kevin Keane

HT. 6-3 6-2 HT. 6-5 6-0 HT. 6-3 6-0 HT. 6-2 6-3 HT. 6-4 6-0 HT. 6-2 6-1 HT. 5-10 5-11 HT. 5-9 5-11 5-10 HT. 5-9 5-8 5-9 HT. 5-10 6-0 HT. 6-1 5-10 HT. 6-3 6-1 HT. 6-0

WT. 245 271 WT. 265 288 WT. 300 281 WT. 240 240 WT. 228 233 WT. 243 214 WT. 206 210 WT. 178 196 176 WT. 151 179 175 WT. 190 207 WT. 200 185 WT. 211 185 WT. 211

YR. Jr. Jr. YR. Jr. So. YR. Sr. Jr. YR. Sr. Fr. YR. So. Fr. YR. Jr. Jr. YR. Sr. Jr. YR. Jr. Jr. Fr. YR. So. Jr. Fr. YR. Jr. So. YR. So. Sr. YR. Sr. Fr. YR. Jr.

26. The Broncos allowed a national-best four passing touchdowns last season.

No. 12 in 2011, No. 2 in 2010, No.14in2009andNo.3in2008.

27. Junior cornerback Bryan Douglas, who started the first three games in 2012, returns from a torn ACL.

3. They did that with standout cornerbacks and a two-deep defensive line.

28. “Hopefully I can come back better than I was,” Douglas said.

4. They need to rebuild both of those areas this year.

29. The safeties should be a strength.

5. Four starters return — junior end Demarcus Lawrence, senior tackle Ricky Tjong-ATjoe, sophomore safety Darian Thompson and junior safety Jeremy Ioane.

30. Ioane was second on the team with 70 tackles last year.

2. They were No. 8 last year,

6. The defense lost three of its top four tacklers.

DARIN OSWALD / Statesman file

31. He also scored a TD against Michigan State and grabbed the game-clinching interception vs. Washington.

Demarcus Lawrence had a sack in five straight games last year.

32. Thompson unexpectedly joined the lineup when Lee 18. Junior Blake Renaud, one Hightower was suspended. He of the team’s fiercest hitters, started the final six games. takes over at middle linebacker. 33. The defense shut out the 19. Local high school offense in the fall scrimmage. standouts Corey Bell (Capital) and Travis Saxton (Eagle) will 34. The Broncos held five contribute at linebacker. straight opponents to fewer than 300 yards late last season. 20. Bell likely will be a co-starter with Jonathan Brown 35. They allowed 430 and at strong-side linebacker. 447 in the final two games — including 279 yards from scrim21. Saxton is Renaud’s mage to Washington running backup. back Bishop Sankey.

7. Of the 16 linemen, only six energy out here,” coach Chris havesignificantgameexperience. Petersen said. “He’s running to the ball and he has had a relent8. Ofthefourstudends—the lessness about him all camp — position where Shea McClellin exactly the way we want our starred—twoaretruefreshmen, defensive linemen to play.” one is a redshirt freshman. 14. Tjong-A-Tjoe and junior 9. “We might have to play Tyler Horn, who plays tackle with some young guys and as and end, need to produce. long as they play hard, with the relentless type of attitude that 15. The Broncos will need we want, and keep working to contributions from true sophoget better, we can live with it,” more Armand Nance (tackle), defensive coordinator Pete JC transfer Justin Taimatuia Kwiatkowski said. (tackle), redshirt freshman Sam McCaskill (stud) and true fresh22. The Broncos have nine 10. Lawrence led the men Gabe Perez (stud) and cornerbacks on the roster. Mountain West with 9.5 sacks Kamalei Correa (stud) to rotate in 11 games last season. the first- and second-team lines. 23. Six of them joined the team this year. 11. He also registered a 16. They might be without team-best 13.5 tackles for loss, a junior college transfer 24. Three of the newcomers team-best four forced fumbles, Tutulupeatau Mataele, a are among the top six expected two fumble recoveries, an inter- projected starter who was held to play — junior college transception and a touchdown. out of fall camp because of an fers Cleshawn Page and Mercy academic issue. Maston and true freshman 12. He should be better this Jonathan Moxey. year — his second in the 17. The nickel has been program after a stop at Butler renamed. The same position 25. “We’re responding Community College in Kansas. will be known as strong-side pretty well as a unit,” Page said. linebacker, ending a five-year “We’re all pretty much bonding 13. “Demarcus has had great run for the nickel. together.”

36. Sankey returns for a rematch in the opener. 37. It’snotdefense—butwe had to put kickers somewhere. 38. The punting job could be a battle all season. 39. Junior kicker Dan Goodale seems poised for a comeback season after losing the job as a freshman. 40. “Dan Goodale’s been very, very good,” Petersen said. Chadd Cripe: 377-6398

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL13

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FOOTBALL14 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Boise State: Roster QUARTERBACK

TIGHT END

SOUTHWICK 16 JOE 6-1 202 R-Sr. 29 13 HEDRICK 9 GRANT 6-0 202 R-Jr. 16 0 PATTI 8 NICK 5-10 196 R-Fr. 0 0 FINLEY 15 RYAN 6-3 186 Fr. 0 0 RICHARD HOPPE 13 5-10 153 Fr. 0 0

TAILBACK THOMAS 23 DERRICK 6-0 208 R-Jr. 0 AJAYI 27 JAY 6-0 220 R-So. 11 FIELDS 21 JACK 5-9 195 So. 9 DEMAS 26 DEVAN 5-8 172 R-Fr. 0 HART 10 JAMEL 5-9 195 R-Fr. 0 BERTOLI 35 CHARLES 5-11 200 R-Fr. 0 BALTAZAR 38 AARON 5-10 215 Fr. 0

0 0

LINEHAN 87 GABE 6-4 238 R-Sr. 29 14 SOSNOWSKI 86 KYLE 6-2 238 R-Jr. 12 2 PETERS 89 CONNOR 6-4 250 Jr. 13 0 JAKE HARDEE 84 6-3 241 R-So. 7 0 HUFF 85 HOLDEN 6-5 236 R-So. 13 5 DUNN 93 BRENNYN 6-3 220 R-Fr. 0 0 REED 91 JACKSON 6-4 226 R-Fr. 0 0 DHAENENS 98 ALEC 6-3 232 Fr. 0 0 JAKE ROH 88 6-2 210 Fr. 0 0

0 0

OFFENSIVE LINE

76 77 78 65 62 72 71 73 70 66 60 79 74 75 52 59 61

0 0

WIDE RECEIVER BOLDEWIJN 17 GERALDO 6-4 220 R-Sr. 31 8 BURKS 18 AARON 6-3 205 R-Sr. 36 2 MOORE 34 KIRBY 6-3 208 R-Sr. 39 8 MILLER 2 MATT 6-3 222 R-Jr. 26 20 BURROUGHS 81 DALLAS 5-8 171 Jr. 25 2 TERRELL JOHNSON 20 5-9 174 Jr. 0 0 WARE 14 TROY 6-2 188 R-So. 5 0 11 SHANEWILLIAMS-RHODES 5-6 157 So. 13 3 TAYLOR POPE 19 6-0 178 R-Fr. 0 0 D.J.DEAN 80 6-0 187 Fr. 0 0 SHIPLEY 83 TANNER 6-0 182 Fr. 0 0 THOMAS SPERBECK 82 6-0 174 Fr. 0 0 MCKINZIE 39 DAVID 6-0 165 Fr. 0 0

JAKE BROYLES 6-5 286 R-Sr. 15 4 SPENCER GERKE 6-3 303 R-Sr. 29 8 CHARLES LENO JR. 6-4 295 R-Sr. 36 26 MATT PARADIS 6-3 300 R-Sr. 22 14 CHRIS TOZER 6-4 319 R-Sr. 1 0 MARCUS HENRY 6-3 285 R-So. 12 0 REES ODHIAMBO 6-4 307 R-So. 7 0 TRAVIS AVERILL 6-3 296 R-Fr. 0 0 STEVEN BAGGETT 6-3 285 R-Fr. 0 0 MARIO YAKOO 6-3 323 R-Fr. 0 0 KELLEN BUHR 6-0 285 R-Fr. 0 0 AVERY WESTENDORF 6-5 292 R-Fr. 0 0 ARCHIE LEWIS 6-3 275 Fr. 0 0 ELI MCCULLOUGH 6-5 271 Fr. 0 0 ANDREW TERCEK 6-1 279 Fr. 0 0 MASON HAMPTON 6-2 266 Fr. 0 0 JAMES MEAGHER 6-2 286 Fr. 0 0

Note: Players listed with height, weight, year, games played and games started; R means redshirt.

LINEBACKER BROWN 32 JONATHAN 5-10 206 R-Sr. 28 4 KAMPER 56 DUSTIN 6-1 216 R-Sr. 11 0 SAXTON 45 TRAVIS 6-1 214 R-Jr. 16 0 RENAUD 13 BLAKE 6-2 243 Jr. 23 0 COREY BELL 38 5-11 210 Jr. 21 4 GRAY 36 TYLER 6-4 228 So. 13 0 PINT 31 ANDREW 6-0 221 R-Fr. 0 0 WEAVER 51 BEN 6-0 233 R-Fr. 0 0 SANTINI 25 CHRIS 5-11 205 R-Fr. 0 0 LEE 44 DARREN 6-1 221 Fr. 0 0 JOE MARTARANO 7 6-2 234 Fr. 0 0 VALLEJO 20 TANNER 6-1 217 Fr. 0 0 MAT BOESEN 54 6-4 213 Fr. 0 0

DEFENSIVE END BEAU MARTIN

271 R-Jr. 12 1 53 6-2 DEMARCUSLAWRENCE 245 R-Jr. 11 11 8 6-3 DARIEN BARRETT 225 R-Fr. 0 0 49 6-2 AUSTIN SILSBY 97 6-3 219 Fr. 0 0

STUD END MARSHALL 48 KHARYEE 6-2 240 R-Sr. 26 0 MCCASKILL 94 SAM 6-3 240 R-Fr. 0 0 PEREZ 33 GABE 6-4 226 Fr. 0 0 KAMALEI CORREA 92 6-2 244 Fr. 0 0

DEFENSIVE TACKLE KICKER TJONG-A-TJOE 43 RICKY 6-3 300 R-Sr. 31 11 HORN 69 TYLER 6-5 265 Jr. 21 2 TUTULUPEATAUMATAELE 55 6-3 280 Jr. 0 0 TAIMATUIA 90 JUSTIN 6-0 281 Jr. 0 0 ROBERT ASH 58 6-3 291 R-So. 1 0 NANCE 40 ARMAND 6-0 288 So. 8 0 HOYTE 96 ELLIOT 6-4 275 R-Fr. 0 0 TERRY 50 NICK 6-3 271 Fr. 0 0

CORNERBACK

1 3 19 34 5 6 16 30 21

BRYAN DOUGLAS 5-9 178 R-Jr. 15 4 CLESHAWN PAGE 5-8 179 Jr. 0 0 MERCY MASTON 5-11 196 Jr. 0 0 PROMISE AMADI 5-9 185 R-So. 0 0 DONTE DEAYON 5-9 151 So. 5 1 CHAZ ANDERSON 5-10 176 R-Fr. 0 0 DIONZA BLUE 5-11 186 Fr. 0 0 JONATHAN MOXEY 5-9 175 Fr. 0 0 CAMERONHARTSFIELD 5-9 188 Fr. 0 0

SAFETY MAKINDE 37 EBO 5-10 185 R-Sr. 25 4 FLORENCE 29 DEON’TAE 5-9 167 R-Jr. 10 0 IOANE 10 JEREMY 5-10 190 R-Jr. 23 14 LOFFLER 24 TAYLOR 6-3 212 R-So. 0 0 THOMPSON 4 DARIAN 6-1 200 R-So. 13 6 LUKEHART 28 DILLON 6-0 207 R-So. 13 0 JAMES 22 CHANCELLER 6-1 205 R-Fr. 0 0 BROWN 47 BRANDON 5-11 192 Fr. 0 0

GOODALE 41 DAN 5-10 196 R-Jr. RAUSA 28 TYLER 5-8 190 So.

15 0 0 0

PUNTER HARMAN 14 TREVOR 6-3 211 R-Sr. 37 0 WALE 26 SEAN 6-1 185 R-Fr. 0 0

LONG SNAPPER KEANE 46 KEVIN 6-0 211 Jr. COTA 42 MATT 6-1 197 Fr.

4 0 0 0

FASTEST LINEMEN

O-LINE: SPENCER GERKE The senior guard was tops in the 20-yard dash (2.85 seconds) and second in the pro-agility drill (4.54).

D-LINE: KHARYEE MARSHALL The senior end was the fastest in the 40-yard dash (4.58 seconds) and pro-agility drill (4.23).

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL15

Boise State: Fan Facts TV GUIDE

TICKETS

Æ Season tickets range from $230 to $390 for adults, plus Bronco Athletic Association memberships where applicable. Æ Family plans (two adults, two juniors) are $786. Æ Individual-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 29. Prices for Air Force and Nevada are $79 adults, $53 juniors in the core of the stadium; $73 adults, $50 juniors in the corners; $61 adults, $41 juniors in the south end zone and $50 adults, $34 juniors in the north end zone. Prices for the other four games are $65/$43 core, $58/$41 corners, $49/$34 south and $40/$27 north. Seniors receive $2 discounts on all tickets. Æ Group tickets are available for parties of 25 or more. Æ The ticket office opens at 9 a.m. on game days. Call 426-4737 for more information. Tickets also are available at boisestatetickets.com.

COLOR SCHEMES

Tennessee-Martin, Nevada: Tri-color* Air Force: Blue Southern Miss: Orange Wyoming, New Mexico: Blue and orange* Washington, Fresno State, Utah State, BYU (away): Orange Colorado State, San Diego State (away): Blue

Football Complex in the north end zone during home games.

Fox Sports 1 (Washington): 219 on DirecTV, 150 on Dish Network and 26 and 493 (HD) on Cable One. ESPN3 (Tennessee-Martin): Available on the Web through participating providers. Cable One offers the service in Boise. It’s also available for free on college campuses and military bases. ESPN (Air Force, Fresno State, BYU): 206 on DirecTV, 140 on Dish, 24 and 491 (HD) on Cable One. CBS Sports Network (Utah State, Nevada, Colorado State, San Diego State): 221 on DirecTV, 158 on Dish, 332 and 410 (HD) on Cable One. NOTE: ESPN has not assigned the Southern Miss, Wyoming and New Mexico games to a network. One could be on ESPN3.

MORE CHANGES TO BRONCO STADIUM

LOCAL TV/RADIO

Statesman staff

NEW THIS YEAR Boise State players will enter Bronco Stadium from the Bleymaier

The ever-evolving stadium will feature a new HD video board, sound system and football facility. Video board: The HD board will be 37 feet, 2 inches tall and 58 feet, 9 inches wide. The old board is 24x18 — the new one is five times that big. Boise State has said the new board will be operational by the Sept. 28 home game against Southern Miss, but it hopes to have it ready sooner. Sound system: Boise State has spent many years trying to improve stadium sound. This time, it’s a complete overhaul — a $260,000 new system that will be integrated into the video board. Bleymaier Football Complex: The $22 million building in the north end zone gives the stadium a new look. The Broncos moved in late last month but some interior work is still being completed. The complex includes coaches’ offices, meeting rooms, the team locker room, a training room, an equipment room, an academic center and a recruiting lounge (the glassed-in room on the second floor). The Broncos will enter the stadium from that end on game days.

* Detailed schemes available at broncosports.com/colorschemes

FAN ZONE

Statesman file

Prior to home games, stop by the Allen Noble Hall of Fame plaza — on the outside of the southwest corner of Bronco Stadium. You can take pictures with a replica piece of blue turf and Buster, meet the cheerleaders, get face tattoos, grab the game day poster and watch the “grill-off” featuring chefs, local personalities and former athletes. There is a live pre-game radio stage beginning five hours before kickoff.

PARKING

Æ Season passes are available through the BAA at 426-3556 or baaparking@boisestate.edu Æ Individual-game spaces are available in campus parking garages for $10 through Boise State parking services at 426-7275. Æ Parking will be available again in the Washington Group Plaza (URS) parking garage off East Park Boulevard. Cost is $5. There is a shuttle to Bronco Stadium. Æ Downtown Boise offers $5 parking in public garages with a game ticket. There is a shuttle to Bronco Stadium.

Gamedays: Bob Behler and Pete Cavender call the games for KBOI (670 AM) and KKGL (96.9 FM). Pre-game shows include Bronco Gameday (five hours before kickoff, KBOI, Dave Harbison and Jeff Caves), Bronco Tailgate (three hours before kickoff, KBOI/KKGL, Harbison and Paul J. Schneider) and Bronco Pregame (one hour before kickoff, KBOI/KKGL, Behler and Cavender). Bronco Gamenight follows the postgame show on KBOI/KKGL (David Allen and Scott Souhrada). Bronco Sports Today: A 2-minute show MondayFriday on KBOI (8:10 a.m.) and KKGL (10:05 a.m.). Chris Petersen’s shows: “Inside Bronco Football with Coach Pete’’ airs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays on KTVB, starting Sept. 4 and running for 14 weeks. The “Bronco Game Week with Coach Pete’’ radio show airs various weekdays on 670 AM and 96.9 FM, starting at 6 p.m. and lasting for one hour. The show debuts Aug. 28. Petersen will no longer appear live during his radio show.

HOW TO FOLLOW BSU: ONLINE & SOCIAL MEDIA No one covers Boise State football like the Idaho Statesman. We’ve got everything Bronco fans need to keep up with their favorite team — on every device and platform. IdahoStatesman.com/ BSUFootball Æ Latest news, updates and game coverage Æ Watch videos, including interviews with coach Chris Petersen and players Æ Statesman photo galleries from every game Æ Weekly chats: We’ll answer your questions Æ Name the score contest Æ Download wallpapers Æ Blogs.IdahoStatesman. com/BroncoBeat

Mobile Æ Get the Statesman’s Bronco Football app on your Apple or Android phone or tablet. Facebook Æ Facebook.com/ boisestatefootball Twitter Æ Follow Bronco Beat writer Chadd Cripe @IDS_BroncoBeat Æ Follow sports columnist Brian Murphy @MurphsTurph Æ Follow sports editor Mike Prater @IDS_Prater

FOOTBALL16 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

The mechanics of... FORCE IN EQUALS FORCE OUT Boise State strength and conditioning coach Tim Socha gave us a lesson in speed, which is produced by exerting force into the ground. Push one way and you go the other. “When we talk about running,” Socha said, “we want a forward lean because if I’m standing straight up and running, I’m putting all my force straight into the ground, which means I’m not propelling myself forward. We want to lean in the direction we’re going.”

LEGS

The muscles on the front side of your body, like the quadriceps, provide stopping power. They rarely are injured in football players because athletes train for deceleration. Rec-league softball players don’t. “Your quads are the antagonistic muscles — the counter muscles that help prevent injuries and help you decelerate,’’ Socha said.

“The stronger your legs are, the faster you’re going to be. If you have a 240-pound linebacker and the coaches say he’s too slow … there are two variables he can change to get faster. He can either lose weight, which makes him faster because then his legs are strong enough, or he can get stronger.”

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Photo of Ebo Makinde by Kyle Green • illustration by Patrick Davis • Text by Chadd Cripe • Idaho Statesman

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

QUADS

GLUTES HAMSTRINGS CALVES “The muscles you really concentrate on when you’re talking about speed development are your glutes, your hamstrings, your calves. Everything on the back side of your body is what propels you forward.”

INJURIES

ARMS

Stride length times stride frequency equals speed — you have to increase one of them to run faster. Boise State wide receiver Aaron Burks is an example of a player with outstanding stride length. “The longer your stride can be and the faster you move your legs,” Socha said, “that’s where you’re going to produce speed.”

The most common speed-related injuries occur in the hamstrings (straight-line running) and groin (change of direction). “A lot of times it’s decelerating. A lot of times it’s putting yourself in a position you’re not normally in. What we do to prevent those is make the muscle as strong as we can and make it as flexible as we can.”

“When you run, your arms and your legs go together. We focus on our upper-body mechanics because your legs are going to follow your arms. As fast as your arms go is as fast as your legs are going to go.”

CORE Socha calls the core — the muscles at the center of the body — the “power plant.” “That core has got to be strong to maintain balance throughout,” he said. “It allows you to put your body in the positions you need to be in in order to be fast.” Socha uses elite sprinters as an example, guys like Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson. “You look at (Bolt) and his core is so strong and so tight. Actually, his whole body is relaxed, the only thing tight is his core. ... That’s how you want to be when you’re running.”

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL17

STRIDE LENGTH

FOOTBALL18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Mountain West: Team Previews MOUNTAIN DIVISION AIR FORCE

COLORADO STATE

Coach: Troy Calhoun Record: 47-31 (six seasons) Last year: 6-7, 5-3 in MW Last bowl: 2012 Armed Forces (L, 33-14 to Rice) Returning starters: 3/5/1 (offense/defense/specialists) Fast facts: Æ New QB. Junior Kale Pearson is a traditional Falcons QB, a run-first quarterback who scored the game-winning TD in Air Force’s win at Wyoming last year. He’s the leader to win the job. Sophomore Jaleel Awini is a passer with a rocket arm, offering something different to the Falcons’ attack. Æ Spears the leader. Junior free safety Christian Spears is the top returning tackler (91 in 2012) and the unquestioned leader of the Falcons’ defense, which ranked a middling 72nd in the NCAA last season. Spears is one of three returning starters in the secondary.

Coach: Jim McElwain Record: 4-8 (one season) Last year: 4-8, 3-5 in MW Last bowl: 2008 New Mexico (W, 40-35 over Fresno State) Returning starters: 9/6/2 Fast facts: Æ Say hello to coach Porter. Former NFL standout Joey Porter is helping the Rams as an undergraduate assistant coach while he finishes his degree. Porter starred for CSU before playing 13 seasons in the NFL. Æ Say hello to coach Saban. The Rams visit No. 1 Alabama on Sept. 19. McElwain was an offensive coordinator under Nick Saban in 2008 and 2009. Æ QB competition. True freshman Nick Stevens has made things interesting. Junior Garrett Grayson (946 yards, 7 TDs last year) is expected to be the starter, but Stevens’ impressive fall camp has moved him past sophomore Conner Smith.

NEW MEXICO

UTAH STATE

Coach: Bob Davie Record: 4-9 (one season); 39-34 (six seasons overall) Last year: 4-9, 1-7 in MW Last bowl: 2007 New Mexico (W, 23-0 over Nevada) Returning starters: 5/3/2 Fast facts: Æ Surprise no more. Davie’s first team in Albuquerque started the season 4-3 before losing its final six games. The Lobos’ option attack gained 3,917 yards on the ground, but just 895 through the air. Now opponents know what to expect from RB Kasey Carrier (1,469 yards, 15 TDs) and QB Cole Gautsche (760 yards, 7 TDs). Æ Heart of Dallas. Senior LB Dallas Bollema led the Lobos in tackles (89) and added three interceptions in 2012. He should get some help from classmate Rashad Rainey, who missed spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Coach: Matt Wells Record: 0-0 (first season) Last year: 11-2, 6-0 in WAC Last bowl: 2012 Famous Idaho Potato (W, 41-15 over Toledo) Returning starters: 8/7/3 Fast facts: Æ Same look on defense. Wells, the Aggies’ offensive coordinator in 2012, took over when Gary Andersen bolted for Wisconsin. Wells hired Todd Orlando as defensive coordinator with the caveat that Orlando learn the Aggies’ defensive terminology. With seven starters and three returning coaches on defense, Wells didn’t want an overhaul as the Aggies move from the WAC. Æ RB tradition. Utah State has put three running backs in the NFL the past two years. Junior Joe Hill could be next. A new starter, he joins a veteran offense that returns starters at QB, TE, WR and four line spots.

WEST DIVISION FRESNO STATE

HAWAII

NEVADA

Coach: Tim DeRuyter Record: 9-4 (one season) Last year: 9-4, 7-1 in MW Last bowl: 2012 Hawaii (L, 43-10 to SMU) Returning starters: 7/8/0 Fast facts: Æ Buy in. DeRuyter, who replaced the popular Pat Hill, won over the locker room with his aggressive schemes — and results. “You come in and it’s brand new. There’s some apprehension until you prove it to guys,” he said. “Winning a share of the championship, I think, validated our systems and our coaches. This year in our offseason, the work ethic has been totally different.” Now can he get them to the BCS? Æ Defensive MVP. QB Derek Carr gets most of the attention, but safety Derron Smith (six interceptions, 79 tackles in 2012) was the preseason pick for defensive player of the year.

Coach: Norm Chow Record: 3-9 (one season) Last year: 3-9, 1-7 in MW Last bowl: 2010 Hawaii (L, 62-35 to Tulsa) Returning starters: 7/8/1 Fast facts: Æ Quick change. Aaron Price was hired in February to coordinate the offense. He was dismissed before fall camp started. Chow will be the OC. Former Utah QB Jordan Wynn, 23, is the quarterbacks coach. Æ Famous name. Taylor Graham, an Ohio State transfer and the son of former NFL quarterback Kent Graham, is the expected starter. Last year’s starter, Sean Schroeder, had a good fall camp. Hawaii, which ranked 118th in offense last year, threw 13 interceptions and 12 touchdown passes in 2012. Æ Name change. Hawaii has gone back to the Rainbow Warriors nickname.

Coach: Brian Polian Record: 0-0 (first season) Last year: 7-6, 4-4 in MW Last bowl: 2012 New Mexico (L, 49-48 to Arizona) Returning starters: 7/5/2 Fast facts: Æ Good pedigree. Chris Ault retired from college coaching and took a consulting job in the NFL. Ault, a College Football Hall of Famer, won’t be easily replaced, but Polian has a stellar résumé. The son of former NFL GM Bill Polian, Brian has been at Texas A&M, Stanford and Notre Dame since 2006. Æ Wither pistol? Ault’s pistol offense remains, though offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich promises more passing. The latest evolution of the offense could mean big years for QB Cody Fajardo (3,907 yards rushing and passing in ’12) and wide receiver Brandon Wimberly (70 catches, 845 yards).

WYOMING

SAN DIEGO STATE

SAN JOSE STATE

UNLV

Coach: Dave Christensen Record: 22-28 (four seasons) Last year: 4-8, 3-5 in MW Last bowl: 2011 New Mexico (L, 37-15 to Temple) Returning starters: 7/7/1 Fast facts: Æ Smith to the rescue. Junior QB Brett Smith, entering his third season as the starter, is already making a dent in the Wyoming record book. The dual threat is responsible for 64 touchdowns in the past two seasons. But Smith must stay healthy for the Cowboys to have success. He missed two-plus games to injuries last year. Æ Odd year success. Christensen led the Cowboys to bowl games in 2009 and 2011 with down seasons after each one. That means success this year, right? At 22-28 in four seasons and with an embarrassing outburst vs. Air Force last year, Christensen needs victories.

Coach: Rocky Long Record: 17-9 (two seasons); 82-78 (13 seasons overall) Last year: 9-4, 7-1 in MW Last bowl: 2012 Poinsettia (L, 23-6 to BUYS) Returning starters: 7/9/1 Fast facts: Æ Touchdown vulture. RC Adam Muema rushed for 16 TDs last year, second-best in the league. He had 1,458 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry. With QB Adam Dingwell and WR Colin Lockett, the Aztecs have a formidable trio. Æ Man in the middle. Middle linebacker Jake Fely (90 tackles, 11.5 for loss, seven sacks) leads a ‘D’ that returns nine starters. Æ Schedule challenges. The Aztecs will find out a lot about themselves early. They visit Ohio State (Sept. 7) and host Oregon State (Sept. 21). SDSU gets Fresno State (Oct. 26) and Boise State (Nov. 23) at home.

Coach: Ron Caragher Record: 0-0 (first season); 44-22 (six seasons overall) Last year: 11-2, 5-1 in WAC Last bowl: 2012 Military Bowl (W, 29-20 over Bowling Green) Returning starters: 7/6/2 Fast facts: Æ Keep it rolling. Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier had incredible success picking football coaches at Boise State. Bleymaier hired Dirk Koetter, Dan Hawkins and Chris Petersen. He picked Caragher from San Diego to lead the Spartans after Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado. Caragher replaced current 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh at San Diego. Æ Fales succeeds. QB David Fales wowed pro scouts over the summer, proving last year’s breakout season (4,193 yards, 33 TDs, 72.5 completion percentage) was no fluke. Top target Noel Grigsby is back, too.

Coach: Bobby Hauck Record: 6-32 (three seasons); 86-49 (10 seasons overall) Last year: 2-11, 2-6 in MW Last bowl: 2000 Las Vegas (W, 31-14 over Arkansas) Returning starters: 9/9/1 Fast facts: Æ Now or never. The Rebels have won two games in each of Hauck’s first three seasons. Time may be running out for the former Montana coach. There is hope with nine starters back on offense and defense. Æ Soft schedule early. Outside of a second-week home game with Arizona, the Rebels have manageable games at Minnesota and New Mexico, and home vs. Central Michigan, Western Illinois and Hawaii in the first half of the season. Æ New coordinators. Former Washington State QB Timm Rosenbach is the new OC; Tim Hauck (brother) is the new DC.

PRESEASON POLL Mountain Division 1. Boise State (40) 2. Utah State (1) 3. Air Force 4. Wyoming 5. Colorado State 6. New Mexico

245 204 143 116 90 63

West Division

1. Fresno State (39) 243 2. San Diego State (1) 181 3. San Jose State (1) 172 4. Nevada 135 5. UNLV 71 6. Hawaii 59

2012 STANDINGS Boise State 7-1 Fresno State 7-1 SanDiegoState 7-1 Air Force 5-3 Nevada 4-4 Wyoming 3-5 Colorado State 3-5 UNLV 2-6 New Mexico 1-7 Hawaii 1-7

11-2 9-4 9-4 6-7 7-6 4-8 4-8 2-11 4-9 3-9

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Mountain West: Players to Watch YEAR OF THE QUARTERBACK • AND A FEW OTHER PLAYERS, TOO

DEREK CARR, FRESNO ST.

The reigning Mountain West player of the year threw for a league-record 4,104 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2012. This is the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder’s last chance to lead the Bulldogs past Boise State and to an outright conference title. “I don’t just want to be the best in our conference, I want to be the best in the nation,” he said. “That’s my competitive drive. It will never change, no matter how many people tell me I’m crazy.” Carr will get plenty of help from 6-foot-2 sophomore wide receiver Davante Adams, who had 102 catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman. Æ Keep an eye on: Overshadowed by Carr and the offense is safety Derron Smith, who had six interceptions in 2012 and could have a bigger impact this year.

DAVID FALES, SAN JOSE ST.

Last year’s breakout season — 4,193 yards, 33 touchdowns, 72.5 completion percentage — surprised many. His stock only rose in the offseason. “I’ve got to stay focused,” he said. “If you’re not winning, performing, it’s going to go the other way.” WR Noel Grigsby (82 catches, 1,307 yards, 9 TDs) is back as his primary target. He is the school’s all-time leader in catches (227) and yards (3,015), and second among active FBS players in both stats. Æ Keep an eye on: Utah State RB Joe Hill could be the breakout performer this year. “We’ve had three backs drafted in the last two year. Is Joe Hill the next? Time will tell,” Utah State coach Matt Wells said. “I like his talent. I think his skill set is really good. He’s got speed. He’s got home run speed is what he’s got.”

CHUCKIE KEETON, UTAH ST.

Carr and Fales move their teams with their arms. What makes Keeton (3,992 yards of total offense), Wyoming’s Brett Smith (3,085 in nine-plus games) and Nevada’s Cody Fajardo (3,907) so dangerous is they can beat teams with their legs, too. New Mexico’s Cole Gautsche averaged 7.0 yards a carry in the Lobos’ option. “Every team has a quarterback who brings a different challenge,” Wyoming defensive back Marqueston Huff said. Æ Keep an eye on: It’s not just quarterbacks who can run in this league. New Mexico’s Kasey Carrier rushed for a school-record 1,469 yards last year. San Diego State’s Adam Muema had 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns. And Air Force, which averaged 316 yards per game on the ground, always runs well.

BROCK HEKKING, NEVADA

Hekking, who sports a Brian Bosworth-style dyed-blond mullet, had eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss last season. The new coaching staff is expecting more from a player with off-thecharts athleticism. If Hekking doesn’t lead the league in sacks, it’ll likely be Boise State’s Demarcus Lawrence, who led the league in sacks last year and forced four fumbles. He could well be the league’s top defender. Æ Keep an eye on: QBs better watch out for Fresno State’s L.J. Jones and San Diego State’s Nat Berhe. Jones had 13 pass breakups last season. Berhe had 94 tackles. “The gunslingers are back,” Berhe said. “It does wonders for the league. People start to notice.” That means people will notice the defenders that can stop them, too. That is, if anyone does.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL19

PRESEASON ALL-MW TEAM OFFENSE QB Derek Carr WR Davante Adams WR Noel Grigsby RB Kasey Carrier RB Adam Muema OL Charles Leno OL Matt Paradis OL Weston Richburg OL Austin Wentworth OL Tyler Larsen TE Marcel Jensen

Sr.* So.* Sr. Sr.** Jr.** Sr.** Sr.* Sr. Sr.* Sr. Sr.

Fresno St. Fresno St. San Jose St. New Mexico SanDiegoSt. Boise St. Boise St. Colorado St. Fresno St. Utah St. Fresno St.

DEFENSE DL DemarcusLawrence Jr.* DL Tyeler Davison Jr.* DL Brock Hekking Jr.** DL Travis Raciti Jr. LB Jake Fely Jr.** LB Keith Smith Sr. LB Kyler Fackrell So. DB L.J. Jones Sr. DB Derron Smith Jr.* DB Nat Berhe Sr.** DB Bené Benwikere Sr.

Boise St. Fresno St. Nevada San Jose St. SanDiegoSt. San Jose St. Utah St. Fresno St. Fresno St. SanDiegoSt. San Jose St.

SPECIALISTS P Ben Skaer PK Austin Lopez Ret. Chase Clayton

Sr. So. Jr.

New Mexico San Jose St. New Mexico

LEFT TO RIGHT: QuarterbacksDerekCarr(Fresno State),ChuckieKeeton(UtahState) andDavidFales(SanJoseState) Statesman and MCT file photos

MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON AWARDS Offensive player of the year: Carr Defensive player of the year: D. Smith Special teams player of the year: Clayton * Member of 2012 All-MW first team ** Member of 2012 All-MW second team

FOOTBALL20 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

College Football: MW Schedule, Bowls & Polls MOUNTAIN WEST COMPOSITE SCHEDULE ALL TIMES MOUNTAIN • DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE Thursday, Aug. 29 UNLV at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Utah St. at Utah, 6 p.m. Sacramento St. at San Jose St., 8 p.m. Rutgers at Fresno St., 8:30 p.m. USC at Hawaii, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26 Fresno St. at San Diego St., TBA UNLV at Nevada, TBA Notre Dame at Air Force, 3 p.m. Wyoming at San Jose St., 5 p.m. Colorado St. at Hawaii, 10 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 31 Colgate at Air Force, 1 p.m. UTSA at New Mexico, 6 p.m. Eastern Illinois at San Diego St., 6 p.m. Wyoming at Nebraska, 6 p.m. Boise St. at Washington, 8 p.m. Nevada at UCLA, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 2 Army at Air Force, TBA Hawaii at Utah St., 2 p.m. San Jose St. at UNLV, 2 p.m. Nevada at Fresno St., 5 p.m. Boise St. at Colorado St., 6 p.m. New Mexico at San Diego St., 6 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 1 Colorado St. vs. Colorado, 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 Tennessee-Martin at Boise St., 1 p.m. Utah St. at Air Force, 1:30 p.m. San Diego St. at Ohio St., 1:30 p.m. Idaho at Wyoming, 2 p.m. Colorado St. at Tulsa, 5 p.m. Hawaii at Oregon St., 6 p.m. New Mexico at UTEP, 6 p.m. UC Davis at Nevada, 7 p.m. Cal Poly at Fresno St., 8 p.m. Arizona at UNLV, 8:30 p.m. San Jose St. at Stanford, 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 Air Force at Boise St., 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 New Mexico at Pittsburgh, 10:30 a.m. Fresno St. at Colorado, noon Cal Poly at Colorado St., 1:30 p.m. Nevada at Florida St., 1:30 p.m. NorthernColoradoatWyoming,2p.m. Weber St. at Utah St., 6 p.m. Central Michigan at UNLV, 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 Boise St. at Fresno St., 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 Wyoming at Air Force, TBA Colorado St. at Alabama, TBA San Jose St. at Minnesota, TBA Utah St. at USC, TBA Oregon St. at San Diego St., 5:30 p.m. Hawaii at Nevada, 6 p.m. Western Illinois at UNLV, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Utah St. at San Jose St., 7 p.m.

Statesman file

GAME OF THE YEAR Boise State at Fresno State on Sept. 20 — a Friday night on ESPN with MW title implications. Boise State won last year 20-10.

Saturday, Sept. 28 Southern Miss at Boise St., TBA UTEP at Colorado St., 1:30 p.m. Wyoming at Texas St., 5 p.m. AirForceatNevada,6p.m. UNLV at New Mexico, 6 p.m. San Diego St. at New Mexico St., 6 p.m. Fresno St. at Hawaii, 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 BYU at Utah St., 6 p.m. Nevada at San Diego St., 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 Air Force at Navy, 9:30 a.m. Fresno St. at Idaho, 3 p.m. New Mexico St. at New Mexico, 5 p.m. San Jose St. at Hawaii, 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 San Diego St. at Air Force, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 San Jose St. at Colorado St., 1:30 p.m. New Mexico at Wyoming, 1:30 p.m. Boise St. at Utah St., 6 p.m. Hawaii at UNLV, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Colorado St. at Wyoming, noon Nevada at Boise St., 6 p.m. Utah St. at New Mexico, 7 p.m. UNLV at Fresno St., 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 Boise St. at BYU, 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 8 Air Force at New Mexico, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 Nevada at Colorado St., TBA Utah St. at UNLV, TBA Fresno St. at Wyoming, 1 p.m. Hawaii at Navy, 1:30 p.m. San Diego St. at San Jose St., 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 Wyoming at Boise St., TBA San Jose St. at Nevada, TBA Colorado St. at New Mexico, 5 p.m. San Diego St. at Hawaii, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 UNLV at Air Force, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 Navy at San Jose St., 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 Hawaii at Wyoming, noon Colorado St. at Utah St., 1:30 p.m. New Mexico at Fresno St., 5 p.m. Boise St. at San Diego St., 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 Fresno St. at San Jose St., 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Air Force at Colorado St., TBA New Mexico at Boise St., TBA San Diego St. at UNLV, TBA Wyoming at Utah St., noon BYU at Nevada, 1 p.m. Army at Hawaii, 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 Mountain West Championship Game, site TBD, 8 p.m.

2013-14 BOWL GAMES BOWL DATE New Mexico Dec. 21 Las Vegas Dec. 21 FamousIdahoPotato Dec. 21 New Orleans Dec. 21 Beef O’ Brady’s Dec. 23 Hawaii Dec. 24 Little Caesars Dec. 26 Poinsettia Dec. 26 Military Dec. 27 Texas Dec. 27 Kraft Fight Hunger Dec. 27 Pinstripe Dec. 28 Belk Dec. 28 Russell Athletic Dec. 28 BuffaloWildWings Dec. 28 Armed Forces Dec. 30 Music City Dec. 30 Alamo Dec. 30 Holiday Dec. 30 AdvoCare V100 Dec. 31 Sun Dec. 31 Liberty Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Dec. 31 Gator Jan. 1 Heart of Dallas Jan. 1 Capital One Jan. 1 Outback Jan. 1 Rose Jan. 1 Fiesta Jan. 1 Sugar Jan. 2 Orange Jan. 3 Cotton Jan. 3 BBVA Compass Jan. 4 GoDaddy.com Jan. 5 BCSChampionship Jan. 6

SITE Albuquerque Las Vegas Boise New Orleans St. Petersburg Honolulu Detroit San Diego Annapolis Houston San Francisco Bronx Charlotte Orlando Tempe Fort Worth Nashville San Antonio San Diego Shreveport El Paso Memphis Atlanta Jacksonville Dallas Orlando Tampa Pasadena Glendale New Orleans Miami Arlington Birmingham Mobile Pasadena

MATCHUP TIME/MT MW-Pac-12 Noon MW-Pac-12 1:30 p.m. MW-MAC 3:30 p.m. CUSA-Sun Belt 7 p.m. American-CUSA Noon MW-CUSA 6 p.m. Big Ten-MAC 4 p.m. MW-Army 7:30 p.m. ACC-CUSA 12:30 p.m. Big Ten-Big 12 4 p.m. Pac-12-BYU 7:30 p.m. American-Big12 10 a.m. American-ACC 1:20 p.m. American-ACC 4:45 p.m. Big 12-Big Ten 8:15 p.m. MW-Navy 9:45 a.m. SEC-ACC 1:15 p.m. Pac-12-Big 12 4:45 p.m. Pac-12-Big 12 8:15 p.m. SEC-ACC 10:30 a.m. Pac-12-ACC Noon SEC-CUSA 2 p.m. SEC-ACC 6 p.m. SEC-Big Ten 10 a.m. Big Ten-CUSA 10 a.m. SEC-Big Ten 11 a.m. SEC-Big Ten 11 a.m. BCS-BCS 3 p.m. BCS-BCS 6:30 p.m. BCS-BCS 6:30 p.m. BCS-BCS TBD SEC-Big 12 5:30 p.m. SEC-American 11 a.m. MAC-Sun Belt 7 p.m. No. 1 vs. No. 2 6:30 p.m.

TV ESPN ABC ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN CBS ESPN ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU ABC ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN Fox ESPN ESPN ESPN

PRESEASON TOP 25 POLLS AP (first-place votes) 1. Alabama (58) 2. Ohio St. (1) 3. Oregon 4. Stanford 5. Georgia (1) 6. South Carolina 7. Texas A&M 8. Clemson 9. Louisville 10. Florida 11. Florida St. 12. LSU 13. Oklahoma St. 14. Notre Dame 15. Texas 16. Oklahoma 17. Michigan 18. Nebraska 19. Boise St. 20. TCU 21. UCLA 22. Northwestern 23. Wisconsin 24. USC 25. Oregon St.

2012 13-1 12-0 12-1 12-2 12-2 11-2 11-2 11-2 11-2 11-2 12-2 10-3 8-5 12-1 9-4 10-3 8-5 10-4 11-2 7-6 9-5 10-3 8-6 7-6 9-4

Points 1,498 1,365 1,335 1,294 1,249 1,154 1,104 1,083 1,042 894 845 802 755 748 677 579 531 382 328 323 286 199 185 134 129

Coaches(first-placevotes) 2012 1. Alabama (58) 13-1 2. Ohio St. (3) 12-0 3. Oregon 12-1 4. Stanford 12-2 5. Georgia 12-2 6. Texas A&M (1) 11-2 7. South Carolina 11-2 8. Clemson 11-2 9. Louisville 11-2 10. Florida 11-2 11. Notre Dame 12-1 12. Florida St. 12-2 13. LSU 10-3 14. Oklahoma St. 8-5 15. Texas 9-4 16. Oklahoma 10-3 17. Michigan 8-5 18. Nebraska 10-4 19. Boise St. 11-2 20. TCU 7-6 21. UCLA 9-5 22. Northwestern 10-3 23. Wisconsin 8-6 24. USC 7-6 25. Oregon St. 9-4

Points 1,545 1,427 1,397 1,262 1,250 1,215 1,136 1,047 1,010 930 872 844 797 726 622 620 589 426 420 400 202 186 172 165 135

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

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FOOTBALL22 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

Idaho Vandals: Season Overview

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Vandals eager to begin Petrino era

They haven’t faced anyone but themselves, but a full offseason under first-year coach Paul Petrino has given the Idaho Vandals some muchneeded confidence as they take the early steps toward righting the ship. Idaho has lost 25 of its past 30 games, but a much more clear vision of the future, Petrino’s reputation, his past connections to Moscow and his approach to rebuilding have the Vandals thinking there is nowhere to go but up. “The energy is way different,” redshirt freshman quarterback Chad Chalich said. “We’ve got guys who love the game here right now, guys committed to working hard and getting better.” After spending last year struggling through a 1-11 season — and searching for a conference home — the Vandals will spend this season as an FBS independent before joining the Sun Belt in 2014. Petrino, a former offensive coordinator at Louisville, Illinois and Arkansas, was an Idaho assistant from 1992-94. Though he will start around a half dozen players with no FBS experience, Petrino understands the project in front of him will not be a quick fix. “There’s probably going to be a couple games where we take some lumps,’’ he said prior to fall camp. “I think it’s important we celebrate our small victories right now — highlighting big plays when we watch practice film, or recognizing guys doing a great job in the weight room — because those small victories will eventually turn into big ones.’’ The offense averaged 15.8 points per game last season (120th in the nation), and the No. 1 quarterback was kicked off the team midway through the season. There is optimism in 2013, starting with Chalich, who is likely to be the No. 1 quarterback, though Petrino had not

named a starter at press time. The Coeur d’Alene High product will be protected by a line that returns three starters, including Rimington Trophy nominee Mike Marboe at center. Petrino brought in two junior college running backs and some intriguing freshmen to compete for carries. The Vandals had only three rushing TDs last season. The guys catching passes could be a strength, led by senior Najee Lovett (548 yards, six TDs last season). Petrino also praised the strides made by senior Roman Runner, JC transfer Dezmon Epps and redshirt freshman Deon Watson, a teammate of Chalich’s at Coeur d’Alene. “Our depth at receiver is kind of making you happier and happier all the time,” Petrino said after the Aug. 17 scrimmage. The defense, which gave up 42.4 points per game (118th nationally), has fewer knowns than the offense. Only one linebacker who played in 2013 returns, and four of the top six defensive backs are gone after combining for 38 starts last season. The line could be a strength with Maxx Forde (four sacks) and fall camp standout Quinton Bradley providing a solid pass rush. “I think we brought in a lot of guys who can contribute right away defensively,” Petrino said. “The guys who were here are hard workers, guys who grind every day to turn it around.” Petrino often speaks of basic tenets like hard work, grinding and diligent preparation. He is well aware of the struggles in Moscow, but also believes the foundation is being laid toward a move out of college football’s basement. “I haven’t really spoken much about the past with our guys,” Petrino said. “We’re getting the right people in here, people who want to be here and work hard. We’re going to be fighters, by the end of the year I think we’ll have a good football team, and then next fall, go for that Sun Belt championship.”

SCHEDULE AUG. 31 at North Texas, 5 p.m. SEPT. 7 at Wyoming, 2 p.m. TV: Root (27 or 431-HD on Cable One, 687 on DirecTV and 426 on Dish) SEPT. 14 vs. Northern Illinois, 3 p.m. SEPT. 21 at Washington State, TBA SEPT. 28 vs. Temple, 3 p.m. OCT. 5 vs. Fresno State, 3 p.m. OCT. 12 at Arkansas State, 5 p.m. OCT. 26 at Mississippi, TBA NOV. 2 vs. Texas State, 3 p.m. NOV. 9 vs. Old Dominion, 3 p.m. NOV. 23 at Florida State, TBA NOV. 30 vs.NewMexicoState,1:30p.m. Radio: All Idaho games on 630 AM in the Boise area.

ONE YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Courtesy of Idaho Vandals

Coach Paul Petrino expects to play many of the more than two dozen signees he added in December and February. He was hired in December to replace Robb Akey, who was fired after eight games last season.

With the demise of WAC football, Idaho spent the 2012 season navigating a murky future as other league teams found new homes. Rather than take the drastic step of returning to the Big Sky (FCS), the Vandals opted to play 2013 as an FBS independent. The other FBS independent teams are Army, BYU, Navy, New Mexico State and Notre Dame. Scheduling as an independent is difficult, and for a team like Idaho, means taking paydays for tough road games (Ole Miss and Florida State this year). In March, the Sun Belt invited Idaho and New Mexico State as footballonly members starting in 2014. Dave Southorn

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL23

Idaho Vandals: Starters & Players to Watch STARTING LINEUP (PROJECTED) OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK 11 Chad Chalich RUNNING BACK 24 Jerrel Brown TIGHT END 86 Michael LaGrone RECEIVER 2 Najee Lovett 87 Roman Runner 1 Dezmon Epps TACKLE 78 Jesse Davis 60 Cody Elenz GUARD 55 Dallas Sandberg 70 Nick Von Rotz CENTER 74 Mike Marboe

HT. 6-0 HT. 6-0 HT. 6-2 HT. 5-9 6-0 5-10 HT. 6-6 6-4 HT. 6-5 6-5 HT. 6-2

WT. 205 WT. 220 WT. 273 WT. 168 185 170 WT. 286 287 WT. 311 292 WT. 296

YR. Fr. YR. Jr. YR. Sr. YR. Sr. Sr. Jr. YR. Jr. So. YR. So. Jr. YR. Jr.

WT. 261 240 WT. 305 262 WT. 215 235 215 WT. 180 164 WT. 202 206 WT. 202

YR. Jr. So. YR. Sr. Sr. YR. Jr. Jr. Jr. YR. Jr. So. YR. Jr. Sr. YR. Fr.

DEFENSE END 40 Maxx Forde 43 Quinton Bradley TACKLE 57 QuayShawne Buckley 91 Vince Keener LINEBACKER 23 Marc Millan 41 Juan Martinez 8 Eric Tuipulotu CORNERBACK 27 Delency Parham 28 Solomon Dixon SAFETY 2 Bradley Njoku 7 Trey Williams KICKER/PUNTER 48 Austin Rehkow

HT. 6-3 6-3 HT. 6-4 6-4 HT. 6-1 6-3 5-11 HT. 5-11 5-9 HT. 6-1 6-2 HT. 6-3

IDAHOANS ON THE ROSTER SOURCE: GOVANDALS.COM DL Brett Ballard, Fr. (Eagle) OL Spencer Beale, Jr. (Lewiston) OL Beau Boyer, Fr. (Lewiston) QBChadChalich,Fr.(Coeurd’Alene) OL Nick Edenfield, Fr. (Columbia) OL Ethan Funk, Fr. (American Falls) S Tom Hennessey, Jr. (Mtn. Home) WRTannerKauffman,Fr.(RockyMtn.) FB Jake Manley, So. (Salmon River)

RB Justin Parkins, So. (Moscow) WR Jordan Pastras, Jr. (Post Falls) TE Justin Podrabsky, Jr. (Lewiston) TE Chance Poe, Fr. (Payette) FBBradyStrodtbeck,Fr.(Timberline) S Jack Tate, Fr. (Timberline) OL Brett Thompson, Fr. (Minico) LB Jordan Vielma, Fr. (Bonneville) WRDeonWatson,Fr.(Coeurd’Alene)

Courtesy of Idaho Vandals

DE QUINTON BRADLEY Playing last season behind Benson Mayowa, now with the Seattle Seahawks, the 6-foot-3,

250-pound sophomore has learned well. He added 20 pounds during the offseason and has been a strong performer in the fall scrimmages, getting two sacks in the first one and knocking down Chad Chalich’s only incompletion in the second.

QB CHAD CHALICH

Chalich, a redshirt freshman out of Coeur d’Alene High and a two-time 5A All-Idaho player of the year, has emerged as the likely starter after strong spring and fall camps. The 6-foot, 205 pounder threw for 414 yards in the Aug. 10 scrimmage. “He picked up our offense very quickly,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said.

WR NAJEE LOVETT

The5-9, 168-pound seniorhad 50 receptions for 548 yards and a team-high six TDs last year after transferring from JC. He is the top returning receiver and also may factor in as a returner. “Last year was my first year,soIwaskindofadjusting throughout the season, and I’m feeling way more comfortable now,” Lovett said.

C MIKE MARBOE

Astarter in all 24 of Idaho’s games the past two seasons, the 6-2, 296-pound junior is on the Rimington Trophy watch list for the second straight season, which honors the nation’s top center. He anchors an offensive line that returns two other starters.

LB MARC MILLAN

One of three junior college transfers expected to start at linebacker, the 6-1, 215-pounder will play strongside. He had 70 tackles, including 7.5 for losses, last season at Santa Ana College. “He’s a playmaker, moves really well,” Petrino said.

All text by Dave Southorn, Idaho Statesman

K/P AUSTIN REHKOW

His 67yard field goal last season for Spokane’s Central Valley High made ESPN’s SportsCenter. Now the freshman is expected to take over for departed kicker Trey Farquhar and punter Bobby Cowan. “I think he’s definitely capable of handling both duties for us this season,” Petrino said.

FOOTBALL24 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Idaho Vandals: Speed

Idaho coach Paul Petrino looks for high-character, hardworking players first when he’s recruiting. After that, he wants them to be fast. The Vandals’ first-year coach has made finding speedy players one of his main priorities, along with making the players he inherited a little more fleet of foot. “Especially when you’re turn-

ALL YOU CAN EAT

LOBSTER

ing a program around, and you’re playing some teams that are supposedly better, speed is a great equalizer,” Petrino said. Petrino said when he arrived in Moscow that he was going to routinely time his players in the 40-yard dash to hold them to a benchmark that they should strive to beat. According to Petrino, three players were able to run sub-4.6 second 40s when he took over last December. “We have 21 now,” offensive tackle Jesse Davis said. “It’s been a real big focus for all of us, something everyone worked hard on this summer.” Idaho’s defense yielded 6.6 yards per play, and the offense averaged just 4.7. The offense

had only three plays of 40 yards or more all season in 2012. “We’ve been pushing for more big plays,” redshirt freshman quarterback Chad Chalich said. “If we can get quicker as a team, push the tempo a little bit, then we’re going to score a lot more points.” Looking back to his days as a Vandal assistant coach from 1992-94, when the team went 29-9, Petrino noted, “When this program was rolling, we had a lot of little fast guys.” Sure enough, Petrino’s quest to find that sort of player was immediately successful — the team’s fastest player is 5-foot-8, 180-pound true freshman running back Richard Montgomery.

L O B STE

“He’s as fast as anyone I’ve had — he can fly,” Petrino said. The emphasis on speed is supplemented by a stress on getting stronger, too. Petrino added a large bell in the middle of the weight room that is rung by a player whenever he sets his personal best. “It would bug me when an O-lineman would put up big weight and everyone hoots and hollers, but when a receiver set a new mark, no one paid attention,” Petrino said. “Now, when you get that whole room excited, everyone’s going to push themselves to work harder, keep Courtesy of Idaho Vandals striving to get stronger, faster.” Idaho senior receiver Najee Lovett is one of the Dave Southorn: 377-6420 Vandals’ speediest players. He recently clocked Twitter: IDS_Southorn a 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL25

Idaho Vandals: Fan Facts, Online & Social Media

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Tackles: Bradley Njoku, Jr. (43) Passing: Taylor Davis, Sr. (38-ofSacks: Maxx Forde, Jr. (4.0) 70 for 330 yards, three TDs, four Interceptions: Solomon Dixon, INTs) So. (three) Rushing: James Baker, Sr. (95 rushes for 395 yards, two TDs) ONLINE/SOCIAL MEDIA Receiving: Najee Lovett, Sr. (50 Athletics website: govandals.com catches for 548 yards, six TDs) Fansites:TheVandalNation.com,

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Idaho State: Season Overview TOP-NOTCH TEMPO FOR BENGALS Speed manifests itself in a lightningquick tempo for the Idaho State Bengals. “We keep track of how much time we take between snaps, try to make that as fast as possible,” wide receiver Luke Austin said. “We want to run as close to 100 plays per game as we can.” The Bengals ran 74 plays per game last season. Quarterback Justin Arias noted that the team ran 76 scripted plays in a recent practice, and finished 20 minutes quicker than planned. Coach Mike Kramer’s pass-heavy offense tries to take advantage of worndown defenses with its up-tempo style. “Ithinkyou’vealwayswantedraw speed,buttoday’sgameiswayfaster,” Kramersaid.“Itprobablywillbethisway forawhile.Wewanttoputthedefenseon theirheelsasmuchaswepossiblycan.’’

IDAHOANS ON THE ROSTER OL Cody Abbott, Fr. (Meridian) WR Luke Austin, Sr. (Skyview) OL Jim Bagley, Jr. (Rocky Mountain) OL Nick Beckman, Jr. (Capital) LB Mitch Beckstead, Jr. (West Side) OL Jake Belnap, Jr. (Hillcrest) DB Michael Berger, Jr. (Skyline) WR Kai Campbell, So. (Highland) DB Pat Carter, Fr. (Capital) DL Chris Edwards, So. (Meridian) LB David Forester, Jr. (Idaho City) DB Christian Gines, Jr. (Skyview) TE Tyler Graves, So. (Fruitland) DB Daniel Guthmiller, Fr. (Skyline) DL Jeremiah Hazard, Fr. (Coeur d’Alene) RB Mario Jenkins, Fr. (Columbia) K Zak Johnson, Fr. (Nampa Christian) DB Derek Kaasa, So. (Skyline) DL Tyler Kuder, So. (Payette) WR Madison Mangum, So. (Timberline) DB Taison Manu, So. (Highland) LB Keelan McCaffery, Jr. (Minico) DB Daniel McSurdy, Jr. (Mountain View) RB Braeden Mitchell, So. (Skyline) WR Chase Place, So. (Rocky Mountain) LB Thomas Ryan, Fr. (Highland) QB Riley Sessions, Fr. (Salmon) TE Colton Shreve, Fr. (Highland) OL Drew Spanner, Fr. (Rocky Mountain) LB Trevor Spence, Sr. (Aberdeen) LB Hayden Stout, So. (Meridian) DL Sage Warner, Jr. (Declo) TE Tyler Wright, So. (Mountain Home)

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

When he looks back at how his defense played in 2012, Idaho State coach Mike Kramer doesn’t mince words. “We sucked last year on defense, in a historical way,” he said. The Bengals gave up 53.8 points a game — eight points per game more than anyone at the FCS level — along with 362.7 rushing yards. Both marks are the worst of any FCS team in the 2000s. Those numbers prompted Kramer to clean house on his entire defensive staff. “We had to make audacious changes,” he said. “We needed a complete change of thought.” Kramer said his depth chart is bigger than ever, as are players such as 6-foot-3, 327-pound defensive tackle Tyler Kuder, and big transfer linebackers. Only two linebackers who played in the season finale weighed more than 200 pounds. “It’s safe to say we lacked size, and that hurt us. But you can see this year, going against them, they’re a lot bigger and stronger,” quarterback Justin Arias said. As usual with a Kramer-led team, the offense will throw the ball plenty. Arias leads the charge, taking over for Kevin Yost, who threw for 3,690 yards last season. Arias, a 6-1, 202-pound junior, played in eight games in 2011 after transferring from College of the Canyons before redshirting last season. “It was the first time I hadn’t played in the fall since I was a little kid,” Arias said. “But it really helped me know the offense even better. So I’ve noticed this fall camp that it’s been paying off.” Kramer said he hopes to have Arias throw “between 70 to 75 times a game.” He will throw to a veteran receiving corps led by Cam Richmond and Luke Austin, who had 67

SCHEDULE SEPT. 7 vs. Dixie State, 3 p.m. SEPT. 14 vs. Western State, 3 p.m. SEPT. 21 at Washington, TBA SEPT. 28 at UC Davis, 7 p.m. OCT. 5 vs. North Dakota, 2 p.m. OCT. 12 vs.NorthernColorado,3p.m. OCT. 19 atNorthernArizona,5p.m. OCT. 26 at Southern Utah, 1 p.m. NOV. 2 vs.EasternWashington,3p.m. NOV. 9 vs. Portland State, 3 p.m. NOV. 16 at BYU, 1 p.m. NOV. 23 at Weber State, 1 p.m. Æ IdahoStategamesare nottelevisedorbroadcast onradiointheBoisearea.

BIG SKY COACHES PRESEASON POLL Courtesy Idaho State Bengals

Idaho State senior receiver Luke Austin, a former walk-on who attended Skyview High in Nampa, had 46 catches for 611 yards and a team-high eight TDs last season. With new quarterback Justin Arias, he’s hoping for a big final season. “I know all the seniors feel this way, too, but I really want to finish it off strong, send the other guys into the next season on a good note,” Austin said. and 46 catches, respectively, last season for a squad that scored 20.7 points per game. Idaho State’s offensive line cut its sacks allowed from 66 in 2011 to 34 in 2012, and returns four of its five starters. “Justin sees the field so well, he’s very quick with his reads,” said Austin, who had eight touchdown catches last season. “We’ve got some good guys coming back, and I think we’ll be able to get in the end zone more this year.” The building blocks have come at a gradual pace for Kramer’s team, and include the simple acts of building up depth and finding players that fit his system. It also has meant overcoming hurdles like losing scholarships and practice time in Kramer’s first year, a result of prior regime’s NCAA-mandated APR and

academic deficiencies. Now Idaho State is at full strength with the maximum amount of scholarships and a perfect 1,000 in the APR for the 2011-12 academic year. “Let’s face it: ISU has fired the last six coaches,” Kramer said. “It’s been broken for a long time. It wasn’t going to take two years. Progress is going to be painstakingly slow, but I think we have the right ingredients in place.” With a roster that is more befitting of a college football team and off-field issues in order, this fall has a different vibe for the Bengals, who are seeking their first road win since 2006 and first winning season since 2003. “Everyone’s buying in,” Austin said. “There’s a new feeling. It’s a clean slate. No one’s saying, ‘Here we go again.’ We’re excited again.”

1. Montana State (8) 2. E. Washington (3) 3. Montana (2) 4. Cal Poly 5. Northern Arizona 6. Sacramento State 7. North Dakota 8.NorthernColorado 9. Southern Utah 10. Portland State 11. Weber State 12. UC Davis 13. Idaho State

140 130 111 109 104 80 66 63 57 49 48 37 12

2012 STANDINGS E. Washington Montana State CalPoly N. Arizona Sac. State N. Colorado Southern Utah North Dakota Montana UC Davis Portland State Weber State Idaho State

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IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL27

Idaho State: Fan Facts, Online & Social Media Tackles: Trevor Spence, Sr. (90) Passing: C.J. Reyes, Jr. (21-of-33 Sacks: Spence (3.0) passing for 177 yards, one TD, two Interceptions:Spence and CamerINTs) on Gupton, Sr. (one apiece) Rushing: Xavier Finney, So. (77 rushes for 288 yards, three TDs) ONLINE/SOCIAL MEDIA Receiving: Cam Richmond, Sr. Athleticswebsite: isubengals.com (67 catches for 739 yards, four TDs) Fansite: bigskyfans.com/bengals

Athletics Twitter: @ISUBengals Others to follow: @Chase Glorfield (Idaho State Journal) Television: Many games are available at americaonesports.com/big sky.asp Tickets: $8 for children, seniors, groups of 10-24 and student guests;

$16 for adults available at isubengals backer Trevor Spence was the lone .com Bengal named to the preseason all-conference team. NEED TO KNOW Æ The team prepared for the Æ The Bengals, who went 1-10 2013 season on a new $700,000 last season, were voted last out of outdoor practice field built south 13 teams in the Big Sky coaches and of Holt Arena, a project the school media preseason polls. Senior line- had sought out for eight years.

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College Football: National Trend

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

Speedyoffensesareleavingteamsdefenseless BY RALPH D. RUSSO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Offense is out of control. Points have never been more plentiful in college football. If touchdowns could be weighed, they’d be measured in tons. And yards? On some Saturdays, it seems you could get to the moon and back with all the ground that gets covered. More than anything, teams are relaying on faster players and running plays almost as fast as Usain Bolt can run the 200. Quarterbacks are better trained than ever and their skills more diverse. The days when a QB was a rare com-

STRAIGHT FACTS: OFFENSIVE STATS Æ In

2008, FBS teams averaged 27 points and 371.6 yards per game. Æ Last year, those figures jumped to 29.5 points and 409 yards per game. Æ Plays per game from scrimmage have increased from 67.7 to 71.5 per team. Æ Yards per play has risen from 5.48 to 5.72. modity if he could run AND pass are long gone. Offensive coordinators aren’t afraid to blend eras and philosophies if it’ll get them a first down. A little triple-option here. A little West Coast there. A dash of

run-and-shoot for flavor. “Every Saturday you’re seeing all of football history in every game,” said Chris B. Brown, the author of “The Essential Smart Football” and the Smart Football blog. Outside of Tuscaloosa,

Reverse the Clock

Ala., and a few other spots around the country, defenses have become defenseless. “In the early ’90s, the defenses were ahead, and Miami was dominating defensively. Things kind of evolved,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. “But I will tell you, the last 10 years, man, it’s been steadily, steadily, steadily the offenses having the edge. The game has changed.” How does a defensive coach deal with it? “It’s hard,” UCLA coach Jim Mora said. “It’s crazy.” Defensive innovators haven’t been able to counter with Xs and Os. They’re

hoping a different approach in recruiting might help, or possibly doubling down on fundamentals. Something to turn around a trend that’s been developing for years. Even in the SEC, which boasts of its defensive prowess, the offenses are taking over. SEC’s teams averaged a league-record 402.4 yards per game and 30.4 points, a bit shy of the record of 31 per game set in 2010. And with more SEC teams picking up the pace of play these days — despite the protests of Nick Saban and Bret Bielema — don’t be surprised if the record book is rewritten again in 2013.

So what in the name of former SEC defensive guru Joe Lee Dunn can be done to shift the balance of power back the guys on the other side of ball? Three areas need to be addressed: player development, recruiting/ personnel and schemes.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

The rise of seven-onseven, a scaled down version of the game played by high schoolers during the offseason without linemen, full pads or tackling to the ground has coincided with improvements in the passing game. See OFFENSES, F29

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IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

College Football: National Trend OFFENSES CONTINUED FROM F28

“It’s all about the development of quarterbacks,” Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said. When they get to campuses, they’re ready to play. Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman last year, but it came just a few years after Tim Tebow was the first sophomore to win it and Sam Bradford became the second. While quarterbacks are working on their games year-round, defensive players are tackling less and less because of injury concerns. “The thing I really see in college football is the missed tackles,” said Dunn, who was one of the most successful defensive coordinators in

college football in the 1990s and early 2000s. The missed tackles stand out more than ever because offenses are forcing defenses to defend so much more of the field, stretching them out vertically and horizontally. Dunn said the answer is stressing the need to run to the ball. But defenders have so far to go, only teams with lineups loaded with elite athletes such as Alabama and LSU have the sheer speed and quickness to close the gaps. For those teams that can’t pack a roster with blue-chip talent and speed, there’s a lot of one-on-one football being played, with the defenses at a disadvantage. “All the better athletes are going to play wide receiver in high school and they’re not playing defense,” Tuberville said.

Or they’re playing quarterback. Back in the day, for the most part, there were running quarterbacks (think Nebraska greats Turner Gill, Tommie Frazier and Eric Crouch) and there were throwing quarterbacks. And the guys with the good arms who could run well (John Elway, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham) were more scramblers than ball carriers. Now players such as Manziel, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch are just as comfortable running the option as they are reading defenses.

RECRUITING/PERSONNEL

Tuberville was part of Jimmy Johnson’s staff at Miami in the 1980s that helped revolutionize college

football defenses by using smaller lineups and more aggressive schemes. Linebackers became defensive ends, safeties became linebackers, and cornerbacks forced the run at the line of scrimmage. Now teams need more defensive backs than ever to defend four and five-wide receiver sets. “What we have done is we signed a couple of kids this year that played offense, that could run, that could jump, but they’ve never covered anybody,” he said. “We’re going to switch them from offense to corners.” More defensive backs and big guys who can rush the passer AND drop into coverage. A player like Carl Bradford of Arizona State, a freak of an athlete who is listed as a 6-foot-1, 241-pound defensive end but is one of a grow-

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL29

ing breed of hybrid outside linebackers. Morgan Breslin of USC, Anthony Barr of UCLA and Ronald Powell of Florida also fit the prototype.

SCHEMES

This might be the biggest problem for defenses. “I think there has been a lot more forward-thinking on the offensive side of the ball,” said Graham, whose teams have become known for fast, prolific offenses. And it’s not just those pesky spread offenses that are doing all the damage. Even what has become thought of as traditional is, in reality, pretty high-tech. Alabama’s one-back attack has more in common with Don Coryell’s Chargers than Vince Lombardi’s Packers. Brown said the ability of offenses to attack so well in

so many ways has defenses losing the numbers game. To stop the run, defenses need to have more players closer to the line, but that leaves them exposed to downfield throws. Move those safeties and linebackers back, and here comes the run. It’s not that simple. Schemes vary in many ways to solve the same problems — or at least try to solve them. Graham said about five years ago he felt the defenses were starting to figure out how to slow down the spreads, but then — with Oregon leading the way — teams started pushing pace and tempo. Defensive coaches can’t substitute players to match down and distance, and often can’t even call plays. It’s base defense and hope for the best — and that’s not working out too well.

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IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

College Football: National Speedsters

Thomas: ThefastestDuckontheplanet BY ANNE M. PETERSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EUGENE, Ore. — De’Anthony Thomas is a man of many surprises. The speedy running back grew up in the limelight as one of the best prep players in Los Angeles, then graced the cover of a national magazine his sophomore year with the Oregon Ducks. But he prefers the quiet of fishing on the McKenzie River. Or hanging out with his new pet iguana, Gucci. There’s not a lot of time for that now, however. Thomas the playmaker is vowing a few more surprises for the upcoming season.

“We’ve added a little more flavor to the offense,” he said. Thomas is one of college De’Anthony football’s top Thomas playmakers — he scored on a 94-yard return on the opening kickoff of last year’s Orange Bowl, the longest ever in an Oregon bowl appearance, and has amassed509all-purposeyards in two career bowl games. Now a junior, Thomas knows he needs to step up his game. While he’s not talking about it, he’s already on a number of national trophy and awards watch lists.

But there’s the matter of position. Although he’s officially listed at running back, he’s obviously adept at receiver also. For the past two seasons, Thomas wasn’t pigeonholed into traditional position meetings and instead was tutored directly by former coach Chip Kelly. Now that Kelly has moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich has taken over as head coach, Thomas says he’s going to meetings with the team’s running backs. But don’t read too much into that. “It doesn’t really matter,” Thomas said. “I just want to

be there for my team, lead by example and contribute. It’s time to go to work.” Helfrich has been noncommittal about the specifics of Thomas’ role, obviously for strategic reasons. “To be determined. That’s the coach answer, right? It depends. De’Anthony likes that role (in the backfield), he likes to be a moving target that doesn’t line up in one position all the time, and certainly we like that, too. We have had that anchor for a long time. You go back to LaMichael (James) and other guys, and we need to find more numbers than just that one guy,” the first-year coach

said. “That’s a position where we don’t have a ton of depth, but De’Anthony likes the role of wide-out, motion guy, movement guy, and we like that, too, to keep him versatile against nickel defenses or whatever defense we happen to be playing against.” Thomas first grabbed attention when he played for Snoop Dogg’s youth football league in Los Angeles. The rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, nicknamed the young Thomas the “Black Mamba” because of his ability to change direction and slip through defenses. See THOMAS, F31

DE’ANTHONY’S ROLE WITH DUCKS De’Anthony Thomas is listed as a running back on the depth chart, but he's just as good at receiver. Which one would he rather play? Thomas says he’s fine with both. Where will he see more time this season? Thomas isn’t saying. Last season he ran for 701 yards and 11 TDs and caught 45 passes for 445 yards and five more scores. He also scored on a kickoff return and a punt return. He was the first Oregon player in 47 years with a TD four different ways. For every 9.2 times he touched the ball, he scored. Associated Press

IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 • FOOTBALL31

College Football: National Speedsters THOMAS

GAME CHANGERS WITH ELITE SPEED

CONTINUED FROM F30

At Crenshaw High, Thomas rushed for 1,299 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also picking off five passes on defense to lead the Cougars to their second straight city title his senior year. All of the attention that he received as a youngster set him up to handle the spotlight at Oregon, which came from the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman. He was the Pac-12 co-freshman of the year. “None of that stuff means anything to me,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been through that. I’ve already experienced all that before. For me, I’m never satisfied. I just want to work hard and get better.” Thomas is such a speedster that he doubles up on the track team. Earlier this year at the Oregon Preview meet at Hayward Field, he won the 100 and 200 meters, and helped the Ducks’ 4x100 relay team set a school record. But he’s all football now. The Ducks open at home Aug. 31 against Nicholls State, and Thomas said he’s been ready all summer. Just don’t ask him whether he’ll spend more time at running back or at receiver. “People want to know,” he said. “People want to know what’s going on, so I try to give them a little bit. But like I said, I just want to contribute.”

JADEVEON CLOWNEY SOUTH CAROLINA, DE

The table is set for Clowney to make a run at being the first Heisman winner to exclusively play defense. Even with teams keying on him, the junior with dominant speed out of his stance should be a pass-rushing force and could reach 20 sacks.

JOHNNY MANZIEL TEXAS A&M, QB

Manziel lives a fast lifestyle off the field, as this offseason proved, but he might be even faster in a football uniform. He ran for 1,410 yards and 26 TDs last year, and is looking to become only the second player to win the Heisman more than once. If he stays eligible, of course.

TAYLOR MARTINEZ NEBRASKA, QB

Martinez’s speed and elusiveness are his calling cards — Bleacher Report reported this offseason that he has 4.32 speed, which would make him the fastest player on the Cornhuskers’ roster. He needs 2,409 yards passing and 142 rushing to join Colin Kaepernick as the only other player in FBS history to reach career marks of 9,000/3,000.

MARQISE LEE USC, WR

Lee, who caught 118 passes for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, is a gamebreaker waiting to happen. One issue, despite his speed: He won’t have Matt Barkley throwing to him this year.

SAMMY WATKINS CLEMSON, WR

The dynamic speed demon and former All-American had all sorts of struggles on and off the field last season, including an ankle injury in the bowl game, but he remains the fastest player on the team and one of the most versatile wide receiver targets in the ACC (15 TD catches in two seasons).

BRADLEY ROBY OHIO STATE, CB

Roby has run a 4.31 in the 40, according to The Columbus Dispatch, which makes him one of the fastest players in the nation. He’s also one of the top cornerbacks, but has lost his starting job and will miss the opener against Buffalo while serving a suspension.

DUKE JOHNSON MIAMI, RB

Johnson, who produced 2,060 all-purpose yards as a freshman last year, has recorded a blazing 4.28 in the 40, according to reports. If the production continues, he could emerge as one of the best running backs/special teams players in the nation.

LACHE SEASTRUNK BAYLOR, RB

The controversial former Oregon player is now entrenched on the Bears roster and considered one of the fastest backs in the nation (a reported 4.34 in the 40). NFL draftscout.com said he’s the “top-rated runner potentially eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.’’ Statesman research and wire reports

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IDAHO STATESMAN • IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

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Protect your brain.

Every concussion is a serious concussion. Early recognition recognition and response can help prevent prevent further injury. St. Luke’s Concussion Clinic is dedicated to preventing preventing concussion, successfully managing concussion when it does occur, and raising awareness about the dangers of repeated concussions. We provide one centralized system for concussion care to support primary care physicians and their patients in southern Idaho. Contact us today to schedule an ImPACT ImPACT baseline test for children children ages 10 and up. This simple, 30-minute computerized test is a preseason physical of the brain, tracking information such as memory, reaction reaction time, speed, and concentration. If a concussion does occur, occur, a follow-up test allows medical providers to compare your results, helping to evaluate your injury and develop an appropriate care care plan.

For mor more e information about the St. Luke’s Luke’s Concussion Clinic and how to rregister egister for ImPACT ImPACT baseline testing, please visit stlukesonline.org/concussion.

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